Jharkhand: JMM hold talks with Congress on possibility of government formation

New Delhi: After pulling out from the BJP-led government in Jharkhand, JMM leaders on January 9 held parleys here with state Congress leaders to explore the possibility of formation of an alternative government in the state. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren, who was Deputy Chief Minister in the Arjun Munda government, told reporters that his party is in favour of forming a new government in the state that can deliver, arguing that polls require huge spending that ultimately put burden on the electorate.

Sources said Soren had a telephonic talk with AICC in-charge for Jharkhand, Shakeel Ahmed, who told him to discuss the matter with CLP leader of Jharkhand Rajinder Prasad Singh. MLAs from both JMM and Congress led by Soren and Singh respectively held parleys at an undisclosed location to find an alternative in Jharkhand after the exit of the Munda government.

Congress MLAs led by Singh later had a meeting with AICC General Gecretary Janardan Dwivedi in the AICC office. JMM leaders could meet senior leaders of Congress if the latter responds positively to the idea of formation of a new government in the tribal state, a senior JMM leader said. "It's not clear whether a new government will be formed or not but I want to ascertain the views of all elected representatives of Jharkhand about their responsibility to the people. Frequent elections require huge expenditure, which ultimately burden the electorate.

JMM leaders could meet senior leaders of Cong if the latter responds positively to the idea of formation of a govt.

"I am in favour of forming a new government and it has to be an alliance government since no single party either JMM or Congress has the mandate for it. The thing is that it should be a government, which can deliver," Soren said. He, however, parried a query on whether JMM is agreeable to a government led by a Congress Chief Minister. "My priority is that people's interests should be protected, whichever government is formed," was his careful refrain.

Lalu Prasad, whose RJD has five MLAs in the the 82-member Jharkhand Assembly, on January 9 demanded that the Assembly be kept under suspended animation.